The recent “Time for Take-Off: The WTO and the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement” interactive workshop, held at the Hamburg Sustainability Conference on June 2, 2025, convened decision-makers and thought leaders to explore how the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) can significantly benefit developing countries. Moderated by Axel Berger,
Category: Trade
Empowering Global Partnerships: The Role of Consultants in Team Europe Initiatives and the Global Gateway Strategy
The European Union’s vision for sustainable global partnerships is embodied in two key frameworks: Team Europe Initiatives (TEIs) and the Global Gateway (GG) strategy. These frameworks aim to foster coordinated efforts among EU Member States, mobilize investments, and drive transformative impacts in partner countries. However, bringing this vision to life
Global Gateway: EU launches Digital Economy Package for Kenya to boost connectivity, skills and inclusive governance
Jutta Urpilainen, European Union Commissioner for International Partnerships, announced the EU’s Digital Economy Package for Kenya during her official visit to Kenya. The package reflects the EU’s strong commitment to Kenya’s technological transition by expanding school connectivity, providing skills training for students, and establishing a green digital innovation hub as
Global Value Chains have spurred growth but momentum is flagging
Global value chains (GVCs) powered the surge of international trade after 1990 and now account for almost half of all trade. This shift enabled an unprecedented economic convergence: poor countries grew rapidly and began to catch up with richer countries. Since the 2008 global financial crisis, however, the growth of
Africa’s Development Dynamics 2019 #AfricaDynamics2019
Competitive firms and committed governments are the catalysts of the continent’s economic transformation African firms are the key to the economic transformation of the continent, but they need governments to create better conditions for them to thrive, according to the second edition of the African Union Commission’s (AUC) economic report
Evaluation of ISO Capacity Building on International Standards
Karsten Weitzenegger leads the Saana Consulting Team for external evaluation of the Sida-funded capacity-building activities of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). BACKGROUND The launching of the evaluation follows a considerable period of preparation and consultation, and a competitive international tendering process that concluded with the contracting of the selected
How is phytosanitary knowledge managed globally?
A recent STDF project evaluation on developing training manuals and kits on IPPC standards scored highly on relevance and efficiency. With 20+ global manuals now published, National Plant Protection Organizations have greater access to technical resources. View the guides online and download the evaluation report. The World Trade Organization has contracted Karsten
Mainstreaming Trade to Attain the Sustainable Development Goals
The WTO is central to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which set targets to be achieved by 2030 in areas such as poverty reduction, health, education and the environment. The SDGs put significant emphasis on the role that trade plays in promoting
OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector
The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains in the Garment and Footwear Sector helps enterprises implement the due diligence recommendations contained in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises along the garment and footwear supply chain in order to avoid and address the potential negative impacts of their activities
UNCTAD 14: Policy coherence needed to turn trade into an engine for growth in Africa
Trade and investment can be drivers of inclusive growth for sustainable development in Africa, says the ILO’s Deputy Director-General for Field Operations and Partnerships, Gilbert Houngbo, at UNCTAD 14 in Nairobi but calls for more integrated policies to realize that potential.By Gilbert Houngbo, Deputy Director for Field Operations and Partnerships,
Germany to support developing countries in the World Trade Organization #WTO
Germany is expanding its trade policy support for developing countries. The Federal Government has decided this today. Developing countries need support in particular when it comes to implementing the legal requirements of the World Trade Organization (WTO). This applies, for example, to dispute settlement procedures where two countries are divided
Evaluating the training on the ECOWAS Common External Tariff (CET)
The ECOWAS Commission received support for the training in 2014 from the West African Trade Integration Promotion, (WATIP) which is implemented by GIZ. Part of the evaluation will provide suggestions for future training. The evaluation is being conducted by an expert team of Saana Consulting and African Trade and Sustainable